The 1894 Bureau Series

The Value of the Stamp



Commodore Matthew Perry (bio)
$1 - Grayish black or black
Type II
The circles enclosing $1's are complete
Scott #261A - Un-watermarked - 1894

 
NY Auction Houses
 
MH
Graded
Used
MNH
Graded
MH
Graded
Spring 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2004
$450-$500
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2004
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2005
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2005
-
-
$225
-
-
$5,000
-
Spring 2006
$1,250
-
$155
-
-
$5,750
90
Fall 2006
$1,350
-
-
-
-
$3,500
90
Spring 2007
-
-
$370
$5,750
-
-
-
Fall 2007
-
-
-
-
-
$2,100
-
Spring 2008
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fall 2008
$575
-
$310
$900
75
$3,000-$3,250
90
-
-
-
$4,750
80
-
-
-
-
-
$13,000-$18,500
90
-
-
Spring 2009
$410-$700
-
$250
$10,500
90
$1,800
90
-
-
-
-
-
$4,500
95J
-
-
-
-
-
$14,000
98
Fall 2009
-
-
-
$18,000
95
$2,600-$3,250
90
$1,035
75
$200-$205
-
-
$4,750
95
Spring 2010
-
-
$190-$280
-
-
$2,400
80J
Fall 2010
$780
-
-
-
-
-
-
Spring 2011
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Facts and Statistics


Issued: Replaced the 1890 90c value. Earliest recorded date of use, March 22nd, 1895,

Plate Size: Sheets of 400 subjects (4 panes of 100)

Printer: The Bureau of Printing and Engraving, their first contract

Watermark: None

Quantity Issued: 8,672

What you should look for

 


Infrequently required the $1 stamp was sometimes required on heavy parcels or overweight letters to foreign destinations, which meant heavy cancels, as seen below. Clean or light cancels add a premium to the value.

The Inspiration for the Design


The old 90 cents gave way to a new $1, the profile of Perry being transferred to the new value

The two new 1894 values, the 50c and the $1 did not have new engravings of presidential heads, they just recycled the 1870 engravings.

The original 1870 design of Perry was based on Walcotts bust, of which I am unable to find an image. Below is shown a similar marble bust of Perry by Erastus Dow Palmer, a contemporary of Walcott.

Shown below is a version, that very nearly made it as the default Jefferson bust to be used. Next to it is one of the many essays of the final 1870 version.

Commodore Matthew Perry (1794 -1858)

Varieties to look for


There are no varieties of #261A

The Making of the Stamp




Unknown Subject
261-E7
Die Proof on India
Die Sunk on Card

 


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